Marking First Year of Launch of Patient Assistance Program dedicated to Liver and Kidney Cancer Patients

Prof. Nguyen Thi Xuyen, President of Vietnam Medical Association, President of Bright Future Fund delivered opening speech at the ceremony

The Patient Assistance Program is initiated and managed by BFF with sponsorship from Bayer South East Asia Pte Ltd (Bayer SEA). The Program is approved by Decision 5316/QĐ-BYT of Vietnam Ministry of Health (MOH). In the Program, patients who are diagnosed with HCC or RCC, and are prescribed with the targeted oral cancer drug approved by the MOH, are partially funded for the oral cancer treatment. With its first year of implementation, the Program has supported 258 HCC patients and 13 RCC patients across 19 hospitals and medical centers.

Dr. Nguyen Ba Tinh, Deputy President of Bright Future Fund presented 1st year report of the Patient Assistance Program

“The Patient Assistance Program is a dedicated and long term program to support patients in their treatment cost, indirectly helping them to adhere to the recommended doses of cancer drug in their treatment to optimize efficacy,” said Professor Nguyen Thi Xuyen, President of Vietnam Medical Association, President of BFF. “The positive impact of the Program on patients over the last one year motivates us to continuously expand the Program nationwide according to the 3-year implementation plan approved by MOH,” said Prof. Nguyen Thi Xuyen.

“I enrolled in the Program in October, 2016. My family and I really feel thankful because the Program has supported us during our fight against cancer to prolong life. I hope that there will be more patients like me can be supported by the Program,” said Mr. C. V. Đ, 56 years old, a patient of Bach Mai hospital.

“The strong collaboration of the relevant partners including medical insurance, oncology and pharmacy departments of hospitals and medical centers are critical to the successful roll out of the Program. We are counting on their continued support to help more patients in need benefit from the Program,” Xuyen added.

According to Professor Tran Van Thuan, Director of K Hospital (Central Cancer Hospital), Director of BFF, primary liver cancer or HCC accounts for 17.6% of new cases of cancer. It is estimated that there are almost 11,000 new cases of liver cancer every year in Vietnam, and liver cancer is one of Vietnam’s top five common cancers in male.

“As the pioneer for HCC systemic therapy (1), Bayer is committed to bringing innovative cancer treatment to patients with HCC. We hope that together with BFF and other partners, we can provide local patients with better access to the innovative cancer treatment,” said Ms. Lynette Moey, Chief Representative of Bayer SEA Office in Ho Chi Minh City.

A group photo with Bright Future Fund, Medical Insurance, Hospitals and Medical centers and Bayer (below)